Unity Blog

account

slimline cards

- by

Sakura

It’s Friday and so much more!  We’re celebrating Unity’s 14th Birthday with so many amazing new stamps and awesome discounts!  Today, I’m sharing the new “Sakura” stamp set and it’s HUGE!  Perfect for slimline cards, A2 cards and even scrapbooks!  I love big stamps and I cannot lie!

For the coloring of this giant stamp, I started with the cherry blossoms.  The colors I used were:  V99, R56, R83, RV93 and RV91.  For the leaves and the branches, I used G85, G82 and E25.  And as much as I wanted to fill in the background, I wasn’t sure if I had enough ink in some of my Copics, so I used a different technique called stippling.

Stippling: /ˈstip(ə)liNG/  (noun) the art or process of drawing, painting, or engraving using numerous small dots or specks.

I used three different Copic colors:  BG75, BG72 and BG70.  Without coloring, you can still create shadows by using the darker color at the edge and dotting out towards the lighter colors.  This is an incredibly easy way to color without ever worrying about perfect blends.

To finish this card, I added a sentiment from the “Thankful and Grateful Fall” Sentiment Kit (September 2018).  To make it stand out a bit, I heat embossed the sentiment to give a little dimension.

Make sure to join the celebration with all of the great deals at UnityStampCo.com.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you found some inspiration.  Until next time…

Happy Crafting!

- by

Always Welcome

Good morning! I’m back today for the weekly Monday feature for me here on the Unity Stamp Company Blog! So happy to be featuring the AMAZING Unity Kit of the Month set on Mondays here on the blog. These kits are always AMAZING, and they hold a special place in my heart since they were the first thing I purchased from Unity, and what got me hooked on Unity to begin with. Who DOESN’T love getting a happy package of stamps in the mail every month, right? And these kits just keep getting better and better. You can read all the details and info to sign up HERE, and see this month’s kit as well.

Today I’m sharing my first cards using the brand new May 2022 Kit of the Month – and the image that I fell in love with at first sight!

This amazing front porch image is so big, beautiful, and detailed! It is fairly perfectly sized for an A2 card front, but I thought it would look fabulous on a slimline card as well. And…when I couldn’t pick what color, I just decided to make two cards and reverse the color scheme for the accent pieces!

Part of the image cut off slightly to fit on my die cut panel. These cards are a nice large 4×9 size, so I didn’t lose much thankfully, and it worked even with that part missing. I die cut a window accent in the top of the panel – this particular one reminded me of the window accent at the top of some front doors, so it felt like a perfect match.

I die cut some wreaths as a front door embellishment – just thought it would add a fun dimensional embellishment, and mimic wreaths on front doors! I even die cut some paper bow shapes I had, and layered them up to add a topper to the wreath.

I finished them off with a couple die cut leaf and flower embellishments from the same cardstock, and mounted the sentiments on foam adhesive across the top!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope to see you back here next week – have a wonderful week!

- by

Layered Stenciling with Texture

Good morning! I’m back today for the weekly Monday feature for me here on the Unity Stamp Company Blog! So happy to be featuring the AMAZING Unity Kit of the Month set on Mondays here on the blog. These kits are always AMAZING, and they hold a special place in my heart since they were the first thing I purchased from Unity, and what got me hooked on Unity to begin with. Who DOESN’T love getting a happy package of stamps in the mail every month, right? And these kits just keep getting better and better. You can read all the details and info to sign up HERE, and see this month’s kit as well.

Today I’m sharing a fun multi-layered stenciling technique, with a fun non-traditional Autumn color combo, and a bit of texture as well!

Here is the video for today’s card:

I love how fun it is to build up the different layers of the stencils – and mixing two different stencils is a super fun way to get a different layered effect as well.

This image and sentiment are so beautiful together – and while they gave a very definite fall flavor to this card, I decided to shake up the traditional color combo by adding a touch of pink.

Adding embossing paste is a fun way to add a bit of dimension and texture, without having to add a lot of layers or bulk. This card would still be easy to pop in the mail with no extra postage!

The finished size of this slimline card is 4″x9″ – so it will fit within a business size #10 envelope. Perfect!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope to see you back here next week – have a wonderful week!

- by

Lemons ~ Coordinating Mini Slimline Card & Envelope Tutorial

Hello, Gaylynn here.  Making a coordinating mini slimline card and envelope set is double the fun.  Today, on the Unity blog, I am sharing a lemon themed mini slimline set tutorial.

The lemon themed mini slimline card & envelope set was fun to make, especially in the bright lemon yellow and green color scheme.  To make something similar, follow the tutorial below for the process.

Sentiment:  Hello.

Helpful tips:

The following are helpful tips for making this mini slimline card & envelope.  To begin, stamp the lemons with Copic friendly ink and then add Copic marker color in layers of coordinating colors.  Next,  die-cut the sentiment layers and set adhere them together.  Then, die-cut or trim a mini slimline card base and accent layers.  Also, use patterned paper to cut the envelope pieces.  Then, adhere the pieces together to form the coordinating envelope.  Finally, assemble the card layers over the card base to finish the card.

 

This is another look.

Here is my video tutorial for this project.  It will detail the full process.

Fresh Lemonade

Chic Script Salutations {die set}

Pink Lemonade {Paper Pack}

Supplies:  Unity Stamp Co. Fresh Lemonade, Chic Script Salutations {die set} and Pink Lemonade 6×6 {paper pack}

Also, foam and flat double-sided tape, scissors, My Creative Time Cute Card Dies, Cute Card Envelope Die and Cute Bubble Cover Die; Ranger multi medium matte glue, Gina K. Designs connect glue, score tape, Copic markers N7, Y02, Y18, YG0000, E81, G46, G43, YG61.

Remember, if you want to view my other projects on the Unity blog, see my features linked below.

Technique Time
Watercolor Wednesday.

Please, tune in next Wednesday with a new project for Technique Time.
Thanks for visiting.

Gaylynn

- by

Colored pencils on black cardstock + slimline tulips

Hello, Gaylynn here.   Tulip stamping and stenciling work great together.  Today, on the Unity blog, I am sharing one way to accent tulips with colored pencils on black cardstock.  Most smooth dark cardstock provides a similar look.

For this card, I used colored pencils on black cardstock with tulip stamping, white heat embossing and stenciling.  This creates a vibrant look on dark cardstock.

Sentiment:  Hello

Helpful tips:

Here are helpful tips to create using colored pencils on black cardstock.  To begin, trim or die-cut a black slimline cardstock panel to fit over the card base.  Next, cut and score a slimline card base.  Also, add powder to the stamping panel.  Then, stamp and heat emboss the slimline tulips in white.  Next, choose colored pencils in red, green and white or different colors of the same color family.  Using a white color pencil, lightly color the flowers and the leaves.  Then, using the tulip stencil and direct coloring, add red at the base of the petals and green shades on the bottom of the leaves.  Also, leave white space at the tops of the petals and leaves.  And, blend the colors together with the white pencil.  (Optional, blend the penciling with Gamsol fluid, which I elected not to do for this card.)  Finally, layer and embellish it all, to finish.

For this particular slimline card:
Card base:  cut 9 1/4″ x 8″, score at 4″.
Card size folded & assembled:  9 1/4″ x 4″.

Envelope:  #10 or 9 1/2″ x 4 1/8″.

This is another look.

Here is my video tutorial for this project.  It will detail the full process.

Supplies:  Unity Stamp Co. Slimline Layering Tulips, Layering Tulip Stencil, Hello die.
Also, foam double-sided tape, black and white cardstock, original Misti, Wow embossing pad; white embossing powder, EK powder tool, heat tool, My Creative Time Amazing Things dies, paint brush, adhesive pearls, Pink Fresh Studio slim ornate banner dies, MFT black cardstock, envelope, Fiskars paper trimmer, Ranger multi medium matte glue, Prismacolor color pencils PC938, PC909, PC913, PC924.

Remember, if you want to view my other projects on the Unity blog, see my features linked below.

Technique Time
Watercolor Wednesday.

Please, tune in next Wednesday with a new project for Technique Time.
Thanks for visiting.

Gaylynn

- by

Warm Wishes for Your Home on Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!  This is Julissa of Paper Gems by Jules on the blog today and I’m so happy to celebrate this holiday with all of you!  Today I’m sharing one of the newest releases called “Warm Wishes for Your Home.”  With all the distance that this year has created, this beautiful image allows us to send warm wishes from miles away.

This is a simple card because the image is just so detailed and it doesn’t require much more than coloring.  And the sentiments… well, they really do send so much warmth.  I colored this image using Copic markers and a little distress ink to create the sky.  The die is a new slimline die by Gina Marie Designs.  And for a little added dimension, I used glittery glue to add a snowy sparkle around the image.

This holiday season, I’d like to wish each and every one of you the gift of health, the gift of peace and the gift of hope.  Even though we are still apart, it is important to try to stay united.

Thank you so much for a wonderful year with Unity and I hope you have a blessed holiday.  Know that through these trying times, you, my friend, are loved.  You’re not alone.  We are in this together.  Remember to continue to give the gift of love and understanding this holiday season and all the days after.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Jules

See every set in Unity’s Christmas stamps collection — red rubber, made in the USA.

- by

Wishing You Peace and Happiness

The holidays are here and there is so much still going on.  I wanted to make a card that I could send to anyone right now…. and I wish I could make a thousand of them to send to you all.  Hi everyone, this is Julissa of Paper Gems by Jules on the blog today sharing a slimline card made with hope using the stamps from the September 2015 Kit of the Month: Our Hearts to Yours.

When I saw this Christmas tree I just love the subtle details.  Embedded in this beautiful red rubber image, there are words of hope… “believe, blessings, love, christmas” and many more.  I wanted to make a card that would highlight this image so I used white space to highlight it.  Below I put some step by step details and photos in case you’d like to try this idea.

Step 1.  Lightly stamp the image.  Just so you can place it on the card and get some ideas of the background.  A Misti is perfect for restamping, but you can use any of your stamping tools.

Step 2.  Using a hillside stencil, I added a little snowmound in the background with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.

Step 3-A.  Using that same Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on the left and right edge of the slim line piece. Make sure not to color in the top center as this will be a source of light.

Step 3-B.  Next, using Faded Jeans Distress Ink, color the left and right side again just a little less further in than the first layer.  Again, not coloring in the center.

Step 3-C.  Doing the same thing, but this time using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink.

Step 3-D.  Last color is Black Soot Distress Ink.  This color makes the white space in the middle light up and give you more of that late night feeling.

Step 4.  Put this piece back into your Misti and restamp.  This time, make sure the image is crisp and all lines get inked.

Step 5-A.  Time to color our tree.  Starting with the greens:  YG45, YG67 & G29.  I started by coloring the whole tree with the lightest color and added layers of the darker colors.

Step 5-B.  Now to light the tree with Y08 on every single start. So cheery already!

Step 5-C.  To color the ornaments, I kept it simple and colored each of the balls with a little R29.  I also added a little shadow of the tree using B41.

Step 6.  Red rubbers stamps has one disadvantage, they can be tough to line up because we can’t see through them.  I use an acetone grid to see where the words fall.  I can realign the stamp and just test it out before making that FINAL stamp.

And this is the result…

Step 7.  Don’t feel like making a mask… here’s a secret tip.  Clean the stamp and then lay it down over the sentiment or image of that said stamp.

Boom… you’ve got a mask.  Next, I splattered white Distress Spray Paint over the entire card.

Step 8.  Layer it up.  I added another layer of black card stock to frame the image and then adhered it to the card base.

The dark edges light this card up and make this beautiful tree come to life.  Now, if you’re not a Kit of the Month Member, you can also get this beautiful Christmas tree with the Spruce Up the Season stamp set {retired}.  However, if you are a KOM member and don’t have this kit, you can purchase it at a discount!

My next blog will be after Christmas, so know that I’m wishing each of you peace and happiness this holiday season.  I hope you are blessed with health and love for this season and all the days that follow.  Until next time, happy crafting!

Jules